Counter dispensing device



' July 17, 1934. H. v. MARSH 1,966,676

COUNTER DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25.. 1932 Z7 f6 6@ a? W /55 7g 72 I6@ Z 66 m a5 6 IZ! .go SZ Z )75 72 65 3 l l U 1 |\I` 70 i I I l I l l I I l .9/ I l l I I 1 l' l l l l l I IV .I I l l l` l 1 l l l l l I l I I I l l. l I I 4/ 45 l 1 .9.7

Pafenied July 1v, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention has to do with a device for the storage of articles of merchandise and particularly to a device in which such articles may be exposed for sale and dispensed.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of:

A cabinet of sheet material divided into a plurality of compartments suited for systematicarrangement of different articles of merchandise. A device comprising vertically disposed magazines for holding uniformly shaped articles of merchandise and'having an opening at the bottom of the magazine to discharge merchandise and a shelf onto which the articles are discharged i5 for display and sale.

An unique cabinet of sheet material having a discharge opening, a display shelf at said opening, and a barrier about said shelf to prevent accidental displacement of the merchandise.

An improved form of dispensing device adapted to removably receive a cartridge filled with articles of merchandise.

A novel cartridge for merchandise having an inclined wall and a partition to divide it into compartments.

A novel combination of blanks for forming a counter storage and dispensing device.

With these and other desirable objects in view, the invention is hereinafter described with reference to one embodiment thereof illustrated in one sheet of drawing accompanying and hereby made a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of dispensing device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 isa plan View of a blank of sheet material having sections foldable to form the housing of the device illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank of sheet material foldable into a shelf support for the device mentioned;

Figure 4 is a pla'n view of a blank of sheet material having sections foldable into a cartridge adapted to hold articles of merchandise;

Figure 5 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a cartridge formed from the blank shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view of the cartridge shown in Figure 5 and taken at the line 5-5 of Figure 5;

lFigure 7 is a vertical section of the cartridge shown in Figure 5 and taken at the line 7-7 in that figure; and

Figure 8 is a vertical section of the device shown in Figure 1 taken on theline 8-8 of said Figure 1.

Like reference characters will be used through- (CI. S12-45) out the following description and in the drawing to designate similar parts.

One embodiment of the present invention is' shown in the single sheet of drawing. This form is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. Such form comprises a housing 20 of sheet material that is folded into shape from an irregularly cut blank 21 shown in Figure 2. The material of the blank may be of various characters, heavy cardboard being suitable for temporary devices wherein use extending more than a few months is not desired. To assemble the housing 20 from the sheet 21, the side section 22 'andthe-flaps 23 and 24 are carried backwardly ninety degrees about a score or fold line 25. The side section 26 and the fiaps 27 and 28 are carried backward-l ly about a score or fold line 29 and into a plane parallel to the opposite side 22. The back section 30 is then bent about a fold line 31 to bring the fold line 32 in juxtaposition tothe extended edge of section 22, whereupon the flap section 33 may be folded upon the score or fold line 32 to lie neatly against the section 22.

Next the naps 23 and 27 are bent inwardly ninety degrees upon their respective scores or fold lines 34 and 35 anterior to the end flap 36 being folded thereover upon a score or fold line 37. Concurrently to placing the flap 36 over the iiaps 23 and 27, the lip 38 may be tucked downwardly into the box and adjacent to the back 30 by folding it upon the fold line 39.

The bottom for the housing is formed by bending the flaps 24 and. 28 inwardly ninety degrees upon scores or fold lines 40 and 41, meanwhile manipulating said iiaps sothat they can be interlocked by tongues 42 and 43. Flap 44 may be disposed in place beneath the flaps 24 and 28 by bending it about the fold line 45. Concurrently the lip 46 may be bent upon the score or fold line 47 and tucked against the inner face'of the front section 48. Another front section 49 is above the opening 50 Below the front section 48 is a support section 51 that is separated from a section to form a shelf 52 by a score 53. Aperturas 54 and notches 55 are cut within the shelf 52. l I

In Figure 3, a support member 51a for the shelf 52 is shown. This member may be of the same material as sheet 21. At opposite ends of the member or sheet 51a are sections 52a and 54a, the sections being separated by scores or fold lines 55a and 56. The support section proper When the member 51a is assembled with the housing 20, the end sections 52a will usually be attached to the lower part of sections 22 and 26 in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. Other means may be used for securing the support member to the housing. Support section 51 is brought upwardly about the fold line 61 to place it in a plane common with that of section 48. Sections 48 and 51 are the same width so that the fold line 53 is positioned at the lower edge of the opening 50. The slots 54 and 55 are spaced in the shelf 52 so that they will slide over the tongue 59 and shoulders 60 when the shelf is placed in ahorizontal position (see Figure l).

If the space between the support sections 57 and 51 is to be less than the width of the shelf 52, as shown, it will be necessary to move the section 5l and the shelf 52 upwardly before the member 51a is assembled with the housing.

When the member 51a is collapsed, the shelf 52 will be lifted from the tongues 59 and placed flatly against the front of the housing while the section 57 is carried adjacently to the housing by doubling the sections 53a and 54a inwardly in the manner permitted by the fold lines 55a, 56 and 58. When the shelf is in the usable position, that is, when it is engaged with the tongues 59 as illustrated in Figure 1, it entirely fills the space between the housing and the section 57 so that the sections 53a and 54a are held in a single plane and a rigid support is thereby had for said shelf.

The housing 20 is adapted to receive two cartridges, one of which is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. A blank 62 of light cardboard or the like is divided into multiple sections separated by fold lines. To assemble a cartridge from the blank 62, the side section 64 is first carried forwardly ninety degrees about a score or fold line 65 which borders the back section 63. Thereafter, in successive operations, the front section 66 will be moved ninety degrees to the right about the fold line 67; partition section 68 is carried to the rear from fold line 69 in the manner illusy trated in Figures 5 and 6; back section 70 is moved about the fold line 71 to lie against the right half of the back section 63; and right side section 72 is moved forwardly about the fold line 75 to lie against the section 66. The sections may be maintained in the position described by placing an adhesive material between sections 66 and 74 and between sections 63 and 70. Next, section 76 is moved forwardly and upwardly about the fold line 77 to place it contiguous to section 63, and concurrently to displace bottom section 78 downwardly about the fold line 79 so that it will lie against the lower oblique edge of partition section 68.

A notch 80 between sections 76 and 78 permits said sections to be turned upwardly without striking the lower edge of section 68. After bottom section 76 has been placed in an inclined plane against the partition 68, support section 81 is turned downwardly about the fold line 82 to lie in a vertical plane. Similarly, sections 83 are turned downwardly about the fold lines 84 to lie in vertical planes. Sections 81 and 83 are of the proper length to reach to a horizontal plane common to the lower edge of back section 63 when o they are turned downwardly.

Figures 5 and 'I illustrate the opening 85 which is formed at the bottom of the compartments betweenthe lower edge of sections 66 and 74 and the front edge of the bottom section 78. Figure u 7 shows particularly the manner in which support sections 76 and 81 hold the bottom section 78 in contact with the lower edge of the partition section 68.

Figure 8 illustrates the assembly of the cartridge within the housing. By raising the top flap 36 of the housing, the proper number of cartridges may be slipped into the housing. It will be noted that the front edge of the compartment bottoms is supported at the same elevation as the shelf 52 when the cartridges rest upon the bottom of the housing. Cutaway sections 85a and 86 are provided at the top back edge of cartridge side sections 64 and 72 to permit the lip 38 to be inserted into the housing. Back side 63 of the cartridge does not reach to a height to interfere with inward disposal of the said lip.

4Devices embodying the invention will usually be set upon a store counter. Other means for supporting the device at a convenient height from the floor may be found satisfactory. Articles of different kinds, such as different kinds of canned goods, may be stored in the various compartments. For example, one kind of canned goods may be placed in one compartment, another kind in another compartment, and so on. 'Ihe cans may be stacked within the compartments so that the inclined compartment bottoms will cause the lowermost one to slide or roll outwardly upon the shelf 52 where it may be easily obtained by a. store clerk or a customer. It is the purpose of the shelf barrier to prevent any of the articles from slipping from the shelf to the iioor. Usually there is a slight downward inclination from front to back of the shelf upon which the goods are disposed.

A cartridge provides a convenient way of filling the device. When a cartridge in the device is emptied of its contents, it may be replaced quickly by one that is filled. Thus, it is not necessary to stand in a salesroom and place cans individually into the cabinet compartments or, as an unprofitable alternative, to take the cabinet from such room for filling. When empty cartons or cartridges are taken from the cabinet housing they may be refilled if this is desired. 1,20 Inasmuch as the cartridges are inexpensive, they may be discarded.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A dispensing device of sheet material forming walls and comprising a storage magazine for articles of merchandise, there being a discharge opening from a side of said magazine, and an end wall of said magazine converging downwardly to the lower edge of said opening, in combination l with a fiat member disposed substantially horizontally to form a shelf below said opening, a support for said shelf, anda barrier normal to said shelf and extending therethrough from said support.

2. A dispensing device having walls of sheetA material and provided with a merchandise discharge opening above the bottom of said device, one of said walls having a fiat extension folded into a horizontal position to form a shelf between said opening and the bottom of said device, and a shelf support comprising a member projecting through said shelf adjacent to the front thereof to provide a barrier for preventing accidental displacement of merchandise from the front of said shelf, said support having an extension alongside of said shelf to provide a barrier at the sides of said shelf.

3. A dispensing device having walls of sheet material and provided with a merchandise discharge opening, one of said walls having an extension folded to form a shelf beneath said opening, and a shelf support comprising a member projecting through said shelf to provide a barrier to prevent accidental displacement of merchandise from the front of said shelf, said support having an extension registering -with' the edges of said shelf to prevent the displacement of merchandise from the sides of said shelf.

4. A dispensing device having walls of sheet material and provided with a merchandise discharge opening, one of said walls having an extension folded to form a shelf beneath said opening, and a shelf support comprising a member projecting through said shelf to provide a barrier to prevent accidental displacement of merl chandisel from a side of said shelf, said support having sections extending alongside of other sides of said shelf to form a barrier at said other sides.

5. A dispensing device having walls of sheet material and provided with a merchandise discharge opening, one of said Walls having an extension folded to form a shelf beneath said opening, and a shelf support comprising a member projecting through said shelf to provide a barrier to prevent accidentalv displacement' of merchandise from the front edge of said shelf, said support having extensions alongside of the side edges of said shelf to provide barriers therealong 6. A dispensing device having walls of sheet material and provided with a merchandise discharge opening, one of said walls having an extension folded to form a shelf beneath said opening, and a shelf support comprising a member having a notched front forming a barrier to prevent accidental displacement of merchandise from the front of said shelf, said support having side sections provided with scores permitting of folding it against the device and when extended projecting along other edges of said shelf to form a barrier therealong.

7. A dispensing device having walls of sheet material and provided with a `merchandise discharge opening, one of said walls having an ex tension folded to form a shelf beneath said opening, and a shelf support comprising a member having a notched front on which said shelf rests, the extensions between the notches on said front forming a. barrier to prevent accidental displacement of merchandise from the front edge of said shelf, said support having foldable extensions along the side edges of said shelf to provide barriers therealong and being collapsible upon the walls of said device adjacent said opening, the collapse of said foldable extensions admitting of the collapse of the shelf.

HARRY V. MARSH. 

